Would Have Been Ambani If I Had Amassed Wealth: Farooq

SRINAGAR — National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday rejected allegations by political opponents that he had amassed disproportionate wealth. He also mocked the BJP’s assertion that Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was “temporary.”

“The property I have at Gupkar was purchased by my father after selling our family property at Soura.  Secondly the property I have at Tangmarg, belonged to my late mother who had acquired it from her father.  Had I appropriated wealth I would have been an Ambani, but unlike BJP leaders who are millionaires, I prefer to live a life by honest means. On the contrary it is the BJP that has to answer the nation on Rafael Deal. The country wants to know the fact,”  a party statement quoted him as saying at a rally in Hazratbal area here.

Dr. Farooq said that the issue of J & K is a political one, and it has to be solved by politically. “It is a political solution that we aspire for. The issue is in the UNO also, and those who think Art 370 is temporary are right: it is until a plebiscite held in the state. The political settlement of the issue is yet to be done.  We aren’t asking for anything new. We are asking for our rights. Art 370 is temporary until plebiscite is done,” he said.

 “ We want the relation with the Union of India on those fundamental points. Our accession is also powered by Delhi agreement.  When I headed the state, I got the autonomy resolution passed, and those say it was rejected are wrong. The then home minister lal krishan Advani visited my residence on the death of my mother to offer his condolences.  He also maintained that they were considering it. The development was followed by the constitution of a committee headed by K C Pant and later another committee was formed headed by Jaitely,” he said.

Abdullah, who also addressed  public campaign rally at Charar e Sharief, said that the ensuing elections “provide us with an opportunity to secure the future of our coming generation saying that the opportunity should be utilized to cleanse the country and state from the communal yolk that is contriving to divide hearts of people.”

Referring to the manifesto of BJP, Farooq said that it is a “repetition of the same promises which they miserably failed to implement on ground for past five years.”

 “They had promised to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits back in the valley. Where they able to do so? The other day a Kashmiri Pandit visited me and recounted how BJP ditched his community.  The Pandit was mulling to shift to Kashmir therefore had entreated some monetary help from Government to do so; however to his dismay his plea had no takers. This is just a case in point,” he said.

“ There are numerous such Pandit families who actually wanted to move but find it difficult because of government support. BJP only wants the votes of Pandits, rest there wasn’t any initiative rolled out by the centre to get Pandits back to their homes. The other day many Pandits who work here visited me and narrated how they have been thrown out of their government accommodations. This deflates the much touted promise BJP made in its earlier Manifesto. The repetition of the promises by BJP in its manifesto testifies to the fact that it has failed to deliver on it for five years. People won’t fall prey to it now. They have seen it all with their eyes,” he said.

Party president said that on one hand Jaitely and Rajnath say that Art 370, Art 35-A has to go, but on the other hand the Governor says it will remain.

“Who should we believe? How many more dead bodies they want to see. The other day an educated boy from a district that has never seen violence gave his life at Kulgam; he could not bear the injustice that is being meted out to his countrymen. The repression, intimidation has to stop otherwise it would be difficult to win the hearts and bridge the gaps.”

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